Injury and Damage Reports
Check back soon as more information comes in. I will post updates here.- While Tennessee is not technically in Tornado Alley, Tennessee was the hardest hit state with a reported 28 deaths. Whole communities have been wiped out as houses were literally torn apart as trees were uprooted, vehicles got overturned, and businesses were destroyed.
- The radar loop of the approaching storms is available here. You can see the severity of the approaching storms as they head to Tennessee.
- According to a New York Times Report the President of Union University where 8 students were trapped in the rubble, told CNN the area looked like "a war zone".
- Federal aid has been promised by President Bush in light of the massive damages while the Presidential hopefuls gave a few moments in their campaigns to remember the victims on Super Tuesday.
- Columbia Gulf Transmission company in Hartsville, Tennessee was struck by a tornado causing fires, but no fatalities have been reported yet.
- Volunteers from hundreds of miles away have been mobilized to search for victims and clean up the mess after the storm. According to CNN, this is the worst tornado in 20 years in the US which is one of the deadliest countries in the world for tornadoes.
- The unusual winter tornadoes, (like the rare winter tornado that struck Illinois earlier in January) were caused by a rash of spring-like weather according to the National Weather Service. Although tornadoes can occur outside of tornado season, it is rare.
- National Weather Service storm assessments reported the following:
BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR IMAGES AND DAMAGE REPORTS FROM AROUND MIDDLE TENNESSEE LAST NIGHT, IT APPEARS THAT AT LEAST TWO SIGNIFICANT LONG LIVED SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS MOVED ACROSS THE AREA. BOTH OF THEM ENTERED MIDDLE TENNESSEE FROM THE WEST AT ABOUT 800 PM AND THEN MOVED RAPIDLY NORTHEASTWARD. ONE PRODUCED DAMAGE IN NORTHWESTERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE, BETWEEN THE TOWNS OF BIG SANDY AND OAKWOOD. ANOTHER TRAVELED FROM NEAR THE TOWN OF CLIFTON, IN NORTHWESTERN WAYNE COUNTY, ALL THE WAY TO THE KENTUCKY BORDER NORTHEAST OF LAFAYETTE. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THIS TORNADO WAS NOT ON THE GROUND ALONG ITS ENTIRE PATH, THERE ARE INTERMITTENT DAMAGE REPORTS EXTENDING ALONG THE ENTIRE 140 MILE PATH OF THE SUPERCELL.
Video Coverage of the Tornadoes
The following videos will take you to You Tube videos of the February 5,6 tornadoes.Tornado Safety
With severe weather, preparation is key to keeping your family safe. While nothing could prevent all losses, being ready for a storm means having a plan in place. Many families with young children need to prepare even more. Practicing tornado drills and keeping kids calm is vital. Kids can get very afraid in storms, so familiarization is key so be sure to have a weather disaster plan in place.In addition, all members of a household should know the location and functions of every part of your weather emergency kit. Other items to keep on hand are weather radios for detailed updates on the storms and weather flashlights because power loss almost always occurs in severe storm events.
References and more information are available at the following online news sources. Each link will take you to specific damage and news reports on this storm system.
